PHILIPPINE GOLDEN BOY Carlos Yulo showed even with wrist issues, he’s a force of nature.
Mr. Yulo, who hurt his wrists in training, put himself in position for a smashing followup to his Paris Olympics golden double as he twisted and piked his strategy to the finals of his stronghold events — the vault and floor exercises — on the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta.
The 25-year-old superstar averaged 14.750 for a stunning piked Dragulescu and handspring front 2.5 twist to guide the march of finalists in vault while he ranked second within the qualifications for floor with 14.566.
Arur Davtyan, the Armenian the Filipino dynamo beat for the vault gold within the French capital, is out to challenge for the world crown after qualifying with the second best rating of 14.566.
Mr. Yulo’s British friend, Olympiad floor bronze medalist Jake Jarman, looms as a serious threat on this planet meet after topping the qualifications with 14.70.
“To start with, I need to thank God for my performance. I’m also just grateful that I used to be protected (from any mishap). I’m just really grateful that I got to compete, show my performance and are available back here in a very good state,” said Mr. Yulo after the qualification round at Indonesia Arena.
Prior to striking gold in Paris, Mr. Yulo previously reigned as world titlist in floor in 2019 and vault in 2021. On Friday, he gets his likelihood to regain the ground mint and do the identical within the vault the subsequent day.
Mr. Yulo is forced to compete in only his two pet events as he’s been coping with a wrist injury that began two months before the world meet.
“While I wasn’t capable of do the all-around, I’m still proud that I’m here and still aiming for the most effective,” he said.
“We’re proud that Mr. Carlos (Yulo) was capable of perform well and make it to the finals of each events. This was our aim so, hopefully, he’ll duplicate his golden performances in Paris,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion said. “We pray that our Filipino fans back home will pray and rally behind him once more in each finals.” — Olmin Leyba